Overview
In addition to national parks, you’ll also visit some of Canada’s most popular resort towns on this Canadian Rockies tour. In the resort city of Kelowna, attractively set on the shores of Lake Okanagan and surrounded by orchards and vineyards, enjoy a winery tour. In the mountain resort of Sun Peaks, you’ll overnight after a beautiful drive that includes passing Mount Robson, the Canadian Rockies’ highest mountain at 12,972 feet. Spend two nights in the alpine town of Whistler, surrounded by stunning glaciated mountains. Here you can hike, explore the village, or take an optional excursion, including flightseeing by floatplane over the lakes and glaciated peaks.
A tour highlight is a stop at the Columbia Icefield, the largest expanse of ice in the Canadian Rockies. Here, you’ll ride the Ice Explorer that travels on ice that is 750 feet thick! You’ll also travel to the Pacific Coast, where you’ll sail across the Strait of Georgia to Victoria for two overnights. Join an included sightseeing tour, visit Butchart Gardens, rated as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, and enjoy free time to discover some of Victoria’s most popular attractions. For the value-minded traveller, this tour exploring the Canadian Rockies is an unforgettable holiday not to be missed!
Itinerary
Welcome to Vancouver! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
This morning, an included city tour highlights Stanley Park, Chinatown, the harbour, beaches, and more. The rest of the day is at leisure; your Tour Director can suggest ways to further explore the city. Maybe take a water taxi to Granville Island with outdoor markets, street musicians, and waterfront cafes or, visit historic Gastown with its steam-powered clock.
Our journey begins in British Columbia's fertile valleys and continues through rich mountain forests to Okanagan Lake. Travel along the lake to the resort city of Kelowna, beautifully situated on the lake shore and surrounded by orchards and vineyards. Sample local wines on the included winery tour.
Motor north through the Okanagan Valley, famous for its peaches and vineyards. Climb up 4,379-foot-high Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park. Take a break at the pass, perfect for photos of the rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. Enter Yoho National Park and ascend Kicking Horse Pass at 5,421 feet. Reach Banff National Park, Canada's first national park, known for its unparalleled mountain scenery nestled in the heart of the magnificent Canadian Rockies. An orientation tour highlights Banff's unspoiled beauty.
Enjoy the day exploring Banff, one of Canada's favourite year-round resorts, and home to 53 species of mammals. The most commonly seen are deer and big horn sheep. If the timing is right, you may spot black bears, grizzlies, or wolves. Your Tour Director will also have suggestions for an optional helicopter ride over the Canadian Rockies.
First, to Lake Louise, its turquoise waters a perfect natural mirror that reflects the mountains and glaciers. Precipitous gorges, snowcapped summits, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens come into view as the motorcoach continues northward into Jasper National Park. A highlight today is a stop at the Columbia Icefield to ride the Ice Explorer that travels on ice measuring 750 feet thick. This afternoon, join our optional float trip down the Athabasca River. Enjoy an orientation tour of the town of Jasper upon arrival.
Today, join our optional excursion to Maligne Lake and Spirit Island, and embark on a narrated cruise. The balance of the day is free to enjoy everything Jasper has to offer-from quaint shops to meandering wildlife.
Leave Jasper and follow the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, peaking at 12,972 feet. Continue following the Yellowhead Highway south along the North Thompson River-a route pioneered by fur trappers. Overnight in the mountain resort village of Sun Peaks.
Head south, following the once treacherous Cariboo Wagon Trail. Via Lillooet, "Mile 0 of the Gold Rush Route," your motorcoach will follow the shores of Seton and Duffey Lakes with a late-afternoon arrival in Whistler.
Spend the day in the alpine resort of Whistler, nestled at the base of breathtaking Blackcomb and Whistler Mountain. Enjoy free time to explore many sites of the 2010 Winter Olympics held here. You may decide to join one of the optional excursions, including a flightseeing tour by floatplane over the glaciated peaks, or a gondola ride between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains - the perfect bear-spotting vantage point.
Set sail across the Strait of Georgia, known for its Mediterranean-type climate. Afternoon sightseeing includes world-famous Butchart Gardens, and then a tour of the beautiful city of Victoria featuring Bastion Square, Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles, and the inner harbour.
A day at leisure gives you the chance to discover this splendid city, including the Royal British Columbia Museum, shopping on Government Street, or a leisurely stroll around the harbour. Perhaps join the optional wildlife and whale-watching trip cruising the beautiful waters of the San Juan and Gulf Islands, looking for whales, porpoises, seals, and eagles.
A scenic ferry crossing to the mainland, where the trip ends at Vancouver International Airport. Please schedule flights after 1:30 pm.
Trip Inclusions
- Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.
- Ferry crossing to/from Vancouver Island is included.
- No meals are included on this trip.
- Vancouver Sandman Suites on Davie (First-Class)
- Kelowna Ramada by Wyndham Kelowna Hotel & Conference Centre (First-Class)
- Banff National Park Banff Inn (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Jasper National Park Lobstick Lodge (First-Class)
- Sun Peaks Sun Peaks Lodge (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Whistler Listel Whistler Hotel (Moderate First-Class)
- Victoria Royal Scot Hotel & Suites (First-Class)
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
- Visiting and participating in activities in this region may be subject to favourable weather conditions and vendor dates of operation.
- Maximum elevation on tour: 7,500 ft.
Enjoy inside visits to Canada's the must-see sites with a great mix of included excursions, free time and affordable value. Read more
Cosmos build free time into every one of their holidays, so you can eat, shop, and explore the way you want. Read more
Cosmos' easy going, fun-filled and multilingual Tour Directors and Local Guides love exploring as much as you do. Read more
Trip Reviews (46) View All Most Recent 'The Canadian Rockies' Reviews
(on several occasions) moose, elk, mule deer, orcas, ground squirrels, coyote cubs, marmot, bald eagle fledglings.
The accomodation was generally very good, the stopover towns that included free days were very well chosen. There was a good range of optional extra tours. Highlight for me was finally getting all the way to Jasper this time, travelling along the Icefields parkway, one of the top 4 most beautiful highways in the world & also the Ice Explorer experience on the Athabasca glacier, not to mention the wildlife sightings. Early morning snow in Banff then the weather clearing so we could do the gondola ride to Sulphur Mountain, the views down into the valley & the boardwalk to the summit.
Whistler was almost as beautiful as I remember, however Autumn/Fall is definitely the best time with the lovely colours in the leaves, although the tulips provided a lovely splash of colour this time. Sun Peaks was a beautiful little alpine ski village. Mt. Robson was a sight to behold. The Capilano suspension bridge, skywalk & boardwalk in North Vancouver are a must see & Granville Is. markets on the waterfront were fantastic. Soooo many highlights really, never-ending spectacular scenery, some great memories & wonderful new friendships made.
Sharon's commentary was fantastic. Her extensive knowledge of each area we visited, the history, facts, stats was mindblowing. Her great sense of humour was enjoyed by all. She was very well organised, patient, extremely helpful & easy to get along with. Nothing was any trouble to her. Mike's driving skills were impressive. We always felt safe irrespective of what terrain or weather we were travelling in. Overall, 10/10 for this amazing tour. Very highly recommended.
Availability
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. For all itineraries that include a cruise, Cosmos may apply a surcharge depending on the cabin categories available on your selected departure. Your Travel Advisor will provide this information in your quote if applicable. Your Travel Advisor will also apply any appropriate discounts automatically and detail any currently applicable 'Exclusive Specials'.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Cosmos. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Cosmos. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
